He was known for using his art to criticize and revolt against social injustice throughout the different historical and political stages in his country, especially the Ottoman Empire occupation and French mandate of Lebanon.

His poems, which he delivered through songs and melodies, were usually written in spoken Arabic, so that they could be read and understood by people of different educational backgrounds.

[4] At the age of 8, Zaani's father registered him in the Ottoman College in Bourj Abi Haydar, Beirut, where he joined the musical band in 1901, and graduated in 1913.

Stories about him include that he was devoted to the extent that he used to sit almost every night on the streets, under the municipal lantern, to spend his time reading.

[4][1] When World War I sparked in 1914, Omar Zaani traveled to Homs, Syria, where he attended the Ottoman Military School.

[3][2] After the war was over, Zaani helped his father cover his family's expenses by working as the director of the Ottoman College from which he had graduated,[5] and a music teacher at the Marie Kassab School.

He was then awarded a scholarship from Al-Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association of Beirut to study law in Saint Joseph University, which he joined after passing the exam.

[2] His songs and poems frequently reflected the social and political circumstances as well as the historical events that were arriving in Lebanon and surrounding Arab countries.

In this poem, he reprimanded people who seemed to give little attention to important events and more care for more shallow matters, such as a woman's attire.

Another very famous poem he wrote was "Badna Bahriya Ya Rayyes," in which he criticized the first Lebanese president of the State of Greater Lebanon, Charles Debbas.

This matter bothered Zaani and caused him many disappointments, especially because he was a talented artist who was loved and appreciated by most of the people at that time.

Hence, Zaani decided to resign from his job in Al-Bidaya court in Beirut (in Arabic: محكمة البداية في بيروت), and devote himself to his art.